Forest Park and the 1904 World's Fair

The 1904 World’s Fair was held in St. Louis, centered on Forest Park (one of country’s largest urban parks — larger than New York’s Central Park), and remnants of the fair can still be seen today. (Check out this map.)

The fair was originally scheduled for 1903 to celebrated the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase and was also known as the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. The celebration was pushed back a year because of delays in construction and the delivery of exhibits. In preparation for the fair, Forest Park was transformed from thickets and swamps into a great landscaped exhibition area. (See the official guide.)

(The 1904 Olympic Games were also held in St. Louis but were overshadowed by the fair.)

Many buildings were constructed for the fair, though the only one meant to be a permanent structure was the Palace of Fine Arts, which now houses the St. Louis Art Museum.

The Smithsonian Flight Cage from the World’s Fair still stands as well and is part of the St. Louis Zoo in Forest Park. Visitors can walk through the huge flight cage to view the cypress swamp and birds now on display there. (Note: If you visit the zoo, be sure to check out Penguin & Puffin Coast!)

Also, some of the buildings under construction at the new and nearby Washington University were leased for use by the World’s Fair. For example, the fair’s Administration Building is in what is now Brookings Hall.

In the time the fair was open, from April to December, about 20 million people visited the grounds.

Fun facts about the 1904 World’s Fair:

• The ice cream cone, iced tea and the hot dog were invented before the World’s Fair, but they became popular at the 1904 fair.
• Dr Pepper may have made its national debut at the 1904 fair.
• The first successful run of a dirigible airship occurred.
• The fair covered 1,272 acres and was more than twice the size of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.
• The X-Ray machine, baby incubator and electric typewriter debuted at the 1904 World’s Fair.

Want some more World’s Fair fun? Try this quiz on World’s Fair food.

Other attractions in Forest Park today include:

• Jewel Box greenhouse
• Muny outdoor theater
• St. Louis Science Center
• Missouri History Museum
• As well as numerous biking and jogging paths, a golf course, a tennis center and an ice skating rink (in the winter).

 

• Learn more about the history of St. Louis.